Liposuction

Safe-effective- permanent removal of fat

It's no secret that we live in a society that places a heavy emphasis on physical appearance. Looking and feeling good plays a critical role in nearly every facet of our lives. Well-shaped figure is a dream of every person.

Hereditary factors, aging, pregnancy etc. can make us out of shape. As a result, many of us have become fed up with those unattractive "love handles", "spare tires", and sagging skin folds. People try so much to shed their extra fat. They do diet restriction or go to gym for exercise or try for body wraps etc. But certain body fats are resistant, it will never move what ever you do. Liposuction can help a lot to shade this unwanted fat and attain nice body shape without much scarring on body.

About liposuction

Liposuction is a surgical technique that improves the body's contour by permanently removing excess fat deposits located between the skin and muscle by small puncture on skin. This key hole surgery leaves no significant visible scarring and recovery is rapid. Liposuction is currently the most frequently requested cosmetic surgery in the world.

How it is done?

Small incision is made on skin and special fluid (Tumescent fluid) is injected into the fatty area to be dealt with. Few minutes are given to act. It loosens and liquefies the fat and makes it bloodless too. Once the fat is liquefied it is sucked out by cannula with the help of syringe or machine from the same incision. Pressure garment is given to compress the treated area. Large amount of fat can be removed without big cut or scar on body.

Liposuction for whom?

Localised, resistant fat not responding to diet and exercise can be best dealt with liposuction. It is best suited to people who are in good physical shape and who have good skin quality. For women, trouble spots tend to be the tummy, hips, thighs, sides of knees, back rolls and arms. For men, it's the belly button region, chest and “love handles" around the hips. Both sexes may also have excesses in the buttocks, neck, cheeks, and chin.

What you can not achieve?

It is a body shaping surgery rather than weight reduction surgery. This surgery is not recommended for over all obese people with very loose skin. The aim with this operation is to remove resistant stubborn fat which does not respond to diet and exercise.

Lipo-sculpture

Liposuction is not merely removal of fat. In fact it is lipo-sculpture, fat is removed to give beautiful shape to body and so sometimes it is necessary to inject fat in some area of depression along with liposuction!! Surgical skill and an eye for symmetry and contour are required to achieve good results. This is very important and it differentiates best surgeon from others.

PAL -
Power Assisted Liposuction

Power-assisted liposuction refers to a new technology whereby the tip of the cannula vibrates at a rapid speed. This vibration loosens the fat cells so that they may be suctioned away gently with less trauma to the surrounding tissues. PAL is performed using tumescent technique. PAL has several important advantages over the suction-assisted liposuction (SAL). Liposuction is safer (less pain, less swelling, less bruises), speedier, more precise and less painful by PAL

Tumescent Technique

Tumescent means swollen and firm. The tumescent technique for Liposuction involves the injection of large volumes of tumescent fluid (tumescent fluid contains saline, local anesthetic and epinephrine) so the targeted areas literally become tumescent (swollen and firm). Liposuction is safer (less bleeding, less pain, less bruises), speedier, more precise and less painful by Tumescent Technique.

Blood loss is about one percent (1%) of the fat removed; it comes to 10 to 15 ml per liter of fat suctioned.

What is micro cannula?

Cannula is a long tube like instrument to suck out the fat. Small size of cannula has made liposuction more precise and safe. The complications like contour irregularity, swelling, bruises, hematoma and seroma are less with smaller cannula.

Superficial Lipo-sculpture

Technique to remove all the fat under the skin thereby causing a tremendous skin retraction is called superficial Liposculpture. It will help to tighten the skin up to certain extent

Length of surgery

Anaesthesia

Local / General / Regional like spinal or epidural

Hospital stay

Liposuction for small area like double chin etc will be a day care procedure. Liposuction for large area requires 2 or 3 days hospitalization.

Risk

The following is a list of the most serious risks, which fortunately are rare.
Swelling or Edema
Temporary swelling of areas treated by liposuction is part of the natural healing process, and usually resolves within 2 to 6 weeks.
Bruises
It might appear in some of the areas and fades within few days.
Numbness
Numbness, which usually disappears after some months.
Pain
Pain may be felt in the lateral thighs and ankle area, even several months after operation. It may be aggravated by jogging or exercise. This discomfort usually disappears.
contour defect
At times it is not possible to give perfect contour to the part due to imperfect suctioning of fat. It may result as rippling or dimpling. This may require a minor correction. Uneven contour, surface irregularities, and lumpiness may result.
Seroma
Leakage of serum into closed space under the skin (seroma) can occur after mega liposuction. It is generally a nuisance, but not a serious complication. Without treatment, a seroma will usually resolve slowly. Occurrence of seroma is less with the use of Microcannulae, open-drainage and efficient compression garments.
Infection
Infection is very rare. The risk is high in diabetics or immune compromised patients.
Bleeding into a closed space under the skin (hematoma) is very rare.
Hematoma
Bleeding into a closed space under the skin (hematoma) is very rare.

After care

Pressure garment is essential after surgery. It decreases the swelling. And it supports the operated tissue. It is to be worn for 6 weeks.

Final result

Patients can see the final result in few weeks.

Recovery

After moderate liposuction
Most patients can return to a desk-type job with 3-4 days after tumescent liposuction.
After megaliposuction
one may take about 1 week time to be in routine.
After liposuction one will find pain or discomfort while changing the posture from sitting to standing or lying down position. Pain will be similar to heavy work out. Gym and other exercise is to be commenced after 14-21 days. Walking can be started earlier.

Result

Results are permanent. The same shape will be maintained for ever (provided you take proper care to maintain the weight)